April 26, 2021 April 26, 2021/ sarah monaghan

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Our Environmental Ethos: Outdoor Classrooms and Woodland Coronations

At Sompting Abbotts, we adopt a school-wide ethos that embodies our commitment to the environment. Its principles – 'Embrace Nature; Embrace Learning; Embrace Childhood' – are threaded through our teaching, influencing every child's journey from Pre-Prep to Upper Prep. Our 30-acre grounds and woodland in the South Downs National Park are at its roots.

Lab detectives: owl pellet dissection and analysis

Pupils have been working as dissection detectives in the science lab at Sompting Abbotts Prep School. They have been investigating Barn Owl pellets found in the school grounds.

Conkers and golden moments: an autumnal tradition at Sompting Abbotts

What child doesn’t love to collect handfuls of glossy brown conkers? At Sompting Abbotts, they don't just fill their pockets — even socks become makeshift pouches. And so, at this time of the year, we send the children out into our school grounds to look for shiny conkers (not that they need any persuading).

Sompting Abbotts named finalist in Independent Schools of the Year 2023 Environmental Achievement Award

Following our earlier announcement in July of the shortlisted entries for the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 awards, we're delighted Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School has been selected as a Finalist in the Independent School of the Year for Environmental Achievement category.

New Beginnings at Sompting Abbotts: Introducing Our New Headmaster

Sompting Abbotts warmly welcomes Mr Chris Gunn as Headmaster, taking the mantle from Mr Stuart Douch who served from 2013-2023. We're grateful that Mr Douch will continue to enrich our community as Head of English and History. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for his excellent past leadership.

Sompting Abbotts launches annual Speech Cup of Poetry and Performance

Sompting Abbotts’ annual Speech Cup of Poetry and Performance saw every child from Years 3 - 8 learn and recite a poem by heart! The best performances were chosen at a special competition in front of an audience of their peers and their parents. It was judged by an external expert adjudicator.

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🍂 A Stunning Autumn at Sompting Abbotts 🍂 The beech trees along Abbotts Walk are at their most beautiful right now, displaying breathtaking autumn colours. These trees were planted in 1988 by our late headmaster, Tim Sinclair, after the Great Storm of 1987. As David Sinclair, our bursar and Tim’s brother, remembers: “Tim always said, ‘An avenue of beech trees takes some beating.’ He was right, of course!” After the 1987 storm, the grounds were devastated and many trees damaged. Thanks to the hard work of the Harris family, who cleared up the fallen trees, and the Sinclair family’s dedication to replanting throughout the grounds, these beech trees and many more now stand tall, maturing beautifully over the decades. It’s a joy to see this golden display each day this Autumn as we arrive to school!🍁 #SomptingAbbotts #AutumnColours #Legacy #BeechTrees #GreatStorm1987 #SchoolTradition

🌞 "In the morning light, shadows stretch, as dreams meet dawn..." 🌞 A beautiful moment captured of our Early Years children, bathed in sunlight and casting long shadows across the grounds of Sompting Abbotts. They're gazing south towards the English Channel that glints in the background. Such a peaceful scene reminds us of the beauty and wonder that surrounds us each day! Here's to the joy of discovery, friendship, and the magic of childhood on mornings like this one. 💛 #SomptingAbbotts #EarlyYears #SunshineAndShadows #NatureAndWonder

Are you ready to experience 1066 – a year that changed Britain forever? Dive into history with Stuart Douch, the talented graphic artist, author, historian, and former Headmaster of Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School. Stuart will be bringing the Battle of Hastings to life through art, storytelling and interaction! ● When: October 14th – the 958th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings ● Where: St. James the Less Church, North Lancing, BN15 0EY ● Time: 7pm - 9pm ● Tickets: £5 on the door (children welcome!) Join us for: ⚔️ A fun and interactive talk about 1066 🍪 Delicious Anglo-Saxon honey shortbread & Norman spiced date loaf served during the interval 💥 Meet an Anglo-Saxon warrior in full battle dress! This is a great opportunity for history lovers, families and anyone curious about the moment that changed Britain forever. Stuart’s first graphic novel, 1066: The Battle of Hastings, will be hitting bookstores and Amazon next year! #somptingabbotts #battleofhastings #historytalk #stuartdouch @northlancingbloke

At Sompting Abbotts, we understand your financial concerns. We provide a more affordable, first-class education with small classes and excellent academic results. Your child will thrive in our nurturing environment, preparing for a bright future, at a more accessible price point than many other schools. Drop into Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School's Open Afternoon on Friday 11th October. Chat with our staff and explore our nurturing and high-achieving prep school. All welcome. For all the details, visit: https://www.somptingabbotts.com/school-open-day-afternoon #somptingabbotts

🌟 Reading Together, Growing Together 🌟 Every week, our oldest and youngest pupils come together for a special reading session! 📚 Year 8 students team up with Year 3s, fostering leadership and nurturing skills in our older pupils while building confidence and friendships in the younger ones. It's a lovely way to strengthen bonds across year groups and inspire a love for learning. 💛 #PrepSchoolLife #MentorshipInAction #ReadingBuddies #somptingabbotts #BuildingConfidence #LeadershipSkills #CommunityOfLearners

Drop into Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School's Open Afternoon on Friday 11th October. Chat with our staff and explore our nurturing and high-achieving prep school. All welcome. For all the details, visit: https://www.somptingabbotts.com/school-open-day-afternoon #somptingabbotts

Year 3 and 4 took part in a fantastic Festival of Fun this afternoon at Lancing Prep Worthing - thank you for a super event! The weather was glorious as the children put into practice their netball and football skills in the sunshine. Well done to everyone for trying their best and learning from the coaches to improve their game! @somptingabbotts #somptingabbotts #outdoorsports #lancingprepworthing

Exciting news to end the summer term! Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School has been shortlisted for 'Small Independent School of the Year' in the prestigious Independent Schools of the Year awards, competing against over 2,600 independent schools across the UK. Headmaster Christopher Gunn says: "We are so delighted with this decision. Sompting Abbotts is a very special family-run small rural school for girls and boys aged 2 to 13. Our real strength lies in our small size: the small classes (average 15 or less) and the fact that our school community feels and acts like one big family." "Our 19th-century building feels more like a rambling country home than a school," adds Mr. Gunn. "It's a place where every child's individuality is known and valued. We may be small in stature, but we are big on impact!" The school's success in the awards follows that it saw in 2021 and 2023, when it was twice selected as a Finalist in the Independent School of the Year for Environmental Achievement category. #SomptingAbbotts #IndependentSchoolAwards #SmallButMighty #isoty2024 #independentschoolsoftheyearawards #independentschool #privateschool #awards

What a lovely musical evening parents were treated to last night at the Summer Concert! Well done to all the children, right from the youngest in Year 3 to our Year 8s, who performed an array of instruments, including the cello, piano, drums, trumpet, flute, violin, vocals and more. Wonderful performances too from our Wind Band, String Group, School Choir, and Chamber Choir. A big thank you to Head of Music Mrs Williamson for organising the lovely event and to all the peripatetic music staff who put in so much work in rehearsing the children! 🎶👏 #SummerConcert #MusicalEvening #SchoolCommunity #TalentedStudents #somptingabbotts

Pre-Prep prize-giving by our lovely Principal Patricia Sinclair! #somptingabbotts #sportsday

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Where do our pupils move onto? Read the stories of some of our most recent leavers

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Charlie joined Christ's Hospital with an Academic Scholarship in Year 9

Rupert joined Cranleigh School in Year 9 with a Sports and Music Scholarship

Thane won a double scholarship to Great Ballard and joined in Year 9

Katie moved to Our Lady of Sion School in Year 9 with an Art Scholarship

Annabelle became a boarder at Christ's Hospital from Year 9 having won an Academic Scholarship

Veronica won an Art Scholarship to Roedean School and joined in Year 9

Aran took up a place at Brighton College in Year 9 with an Academic Award

Rosalind won a Year 9 Drama Scholarship to Lancing College

Reece joined Lancing College in Year 9 having achieved the Headmaster's Award

George moved on to Brighton College in Year 9 with an Academic Award

Anthony began at Steyning Grammar in Year 9

Beatrice moved to Burgess Hill Girls School in Year 7

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Sompting Abbotts is a West Sussex preparatory school near Worthing for girls and boys aged 2 - 13.Tel: 01903 235960. Email: office@somptingabbotts.com Postal address: Sompting Abbotts, Church Lane, West Sussex, BN15 OAZ. 

© Sompting Abbotts School Ltd. Companies House registration number 417499: Registered office: Sompting Abbotts School Ltd, Church Lane, Sompting, West Sussex, BN15 0AZ. Tel: 01903 235960. Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School is an independent school in West Sussex, located near Worthing, Steyning and Brighton. It is a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools. Bursaries /financial assistance may occasionally be awarded to suitable applicants in cases of genuine demonstrated financial need. Contact: The Principal, Patricia Sinclair, Church Lane, Sompting, West Sussex, BN15 0AZ. Email: office@somptingabbotts.com Website Privacy Notice. Terms & Conditions. Cookies. Website concept, design, videography, photography and copywriting by www.connectedcopy.co.uk

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Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions you have to make as a parent. Please email us below with any questions. Or call our Admissions Office directly on 01903 235960.

Where do our pupils move onto? Read the stories of some of our most recent leavers

Sompting Abbotts is a West Sussex preparatory school near Worthing for girls and boys aged 2 - 13.Tel: 01903 235960. Email: office@somptingabbotts.com Postal address: Sompting Abbotts, Church Lane, West Sussex, BN15 OAZ.